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Check it's lineup.. Look at how much content on the channels are actual HD? And tell me the World Cup wasn't a major reason these channels were added.

There are several HD channels that DIRECTV offers than have little to no HD content and no major sporting events to support their addition. If major sporting events were a concern, you would think they would have popped for the NBC/Universal channels for the Olympics.

I remain convinced that you're mistaken about DIRECTV's "major" motivation for adding the channels.

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -- JFK

In this month's DTV Programming Newsletter (the insert with the monthly bill) they're listing the first 20 HD channels to be added in May/ June.... There are no surprises in this List except for one: TeleFutura-HD coming to Channel 74, not Channel 408 where it was recently added to the Spanish-language packages...

Since this Newsletter does not cover (or list) the Spanish-language packages' networks (there is a separate Newsletter for "Mas" subscribers), my assumption is that TF will now be made available outside of "Mas".....

Why they're putting it on Ch. 74 and not just opening up Ch. 408 for everyone is a question I posed to Sixto on his DTV Transponders thread....

Another question is whether this will be TeleFutura East or West (the Lineup Guide doesn't say).... It'd be great if it's East to complement the West feed on 408...

There are several HD channels that DIRECTV offers than have little to no HD content and no major sporting events to support their addition. If major sporting events were a concern, you would think they would have popped for the NBC/Universal channels for the Olympics.

I remain convinced that you're mistaken about DIRECTV's "major" motivation for adding the channels.

You're ignoring the fact that no other "major" sporting event can compare to the audience for the World Cup. The global TV audience for the World Cup dwarfs everything else, including the Olympics. It might not register as much for American audiences, but definitely does for Univision's viewers. And Univision's ratings for the World Cup are roughly triple those for ESPN and ABC's World Cup broadcasts.

The Olympics is a poor comparison because the events were split between multiple channels, with most of the audience watching on NBC and only one channel showing live Olympic events (MSNBC) was not in HD on Directv.

For Univision's viewers, the World Cup is appointment viewing and getting the event in HD would indeed be a major motivation for their audience. This is the same reason why HDTV sales every year peak during the week of the Super Bowl. At the very least, Directv should add Univision HD just to avoid a spate of cancellations during the World Cup. Failing to add any of the other missing HD channels won't have nearly as detrimental an effect on Directv's subscriber retention, as failing to add Univision HD in time for the World Cup would have.

Unlike other cable channels, sports is more of a make or break offering than any other programming. USA is the highest rated cable network, but dropping that network or not offering it in HD would not induce nearly as many cancellations as ESPN or the local RSN would. This is why ESPN's carriage fee is more than 6X greater than USA, despite USA having an average audience more than twice as big. It's also why the local RSNs' carriage fees are about twice as high as any of the national cable channels, except ESPN.

So, will we be able to see World Cup on both ESPN/ABC, as well as Univision here in the states? ESPN is not exclusive?

UniVision's Coverage in the past has been better than ESPN's too. Well at least during the last World Cup. I think the reason Both Direct and now Dish are carrying Univision and Tele has everything to do with the fact that the World Cup is right around the corner, and the market that watch's the World Cup is HUGE, and nobody wants to be left out.

Is everyone getting Telefutura in HD yet? I still dont see it... 721 message.

If you have any of the Mas Spanish standard packages, you should see it automatically. If you pay for the Spanish channels as an add-on to your Choice/Premier level of service, you need to REFRESH your services at DirecTV.com (https://www.directv.....zationBody.jsp) or by calling and doing it over the phone. I just refreshed my receivers and I can now see channel 408. This refresh is also required for the Hallmark Movie Channel that was added today to the HD Extra Pack.